UKC

What's in Your Gear Store? #2

© Adam Hughes

In this series of short articles, we ask climbers that all-important question that gets a gear freak's eyes bulging: "What's in your gear store?" Generally, "store" could be representative of something ranging from a messy pile on the floor to an obsessively organised, purpose-built storage cupboard adorned with hanging compartments, electrical tape, labels and shiny kit categorised by brand, function and size...or, if you're really posh, you'll have a gear room.

So what do the non-sponsored, but keen climbers have in their gear store? We will be asking a variety of climbers partaking in different aspects of the sport at various levels and shaming exposing their gear habits.

Last week Charlie Mackie let us delve into his stash of gear. This week our victim is Adam Hughes.


Adam Hughes  © A. Hughes
Adam Hughes
© A. Hughes
Adam Hughes is a 37 year-old self-employed Mountaineering Instructor running his own guiding company. He lives near Halifax with his wife and daughter and tries to work as little as possible, but climb as much as he can.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"My gear is all divided into boxes based on use and season...then racked in a garage!"

Adam's gear garage with gear in display mode, not tidy mode...  © Adam Hughes
Adam's gear garage with gear in display mode, not tidy mode...
© Adam Hughes

First bit of kit? A pair of Scarpa Helix. I quickly upgraded to a pair of 5:10 Moccasyms.

Favourite Item? Gold Member, or the Black Diamond Camalot 2 to the uninitiated. Goes in somewhere on pretty much every route.

Couldn't live without? My Edelrid Mantel bouldering Mat. Having a little one you need to grab minutes or hours when you can. This lets me do problems or routes on the great local crags easily enough.

Most battered/loved item? A set of Petzl Aztar's. They have done some proper Scottish test pieces and are still going strong 12 years later. If only they still made the picks. Loved would be my original set of 5:10 pinks. They only come out on very special occasions. About as rare as Dave Mac eating cheesecake.

Can't bear to be without? My EB Django climbing shoes. Now they are broken in, they are a dream. Work well on all terrain and rock types. Great value too.

Can't bear to throw away? Nothing really - I just get rid!

Most recent purchase? A set of Rab gaiters. No one likes wet feet.

Item that got you out of tricky situation? Strangely a pair of Vans skate shoes. I started up what I thought was an aid pitch on Half Dome at 4 in the morning. It turned out to be a weird smearing groove with spaced gear. Who knew Vans rubber could rival that of 5:10?!

Desert island kit: The new Yorkshire grit guides. They'd remind me of home and keep me entertained with the history and interviews.

Best cheap kit? I recently lost my expensive ski goggles somewhere in the house. Refusing to waste money I purchased a new pair from Aldi. £7.99 and they have been brilliant in a pretty stormy winter so far. Never misted up once, even after getting wet inside, brilliant.

Luxury gear? Something that you always take with you, but really don't NEED: Can't say I have any. Everything has its use and place.

Strangest thing used as gear? I once buried my axe below a terrifying cornice exit and clipped it as a runner. Then spent the next 40 minutes arm jamming and digging my way to the top. My second was a little confused when they took it out as the exit apparently wasn't that bad.

Strangest use for gear? I once forgot my bivi bag when snowholing. I wrapped myself up in a small group shelter. It was an uncomfortable, wet and cold night!

Quickfire Questions:

Hoarder or get-rid-of-it? Get rid of it!

Organised or disorganised? Organised

Brand loyal or best of everything? Brand loyal

Get it scratched or keep it shiny? Get it scratched

Quick wash or dutifully polish clean? Quick wash

 

View the first and previous article in this series:  What's in your gear store? #1 




5 Mar, 2015
Finally the post we all(?) wanted to see - a big mess on the floor :) Just out of interest, how would one go about being involved in this series? I'm sure there are many on this site that can take a picture of their gear "store" and answer a few questions, myself included!
5 Mar, 2015
Hi Ian, We would welcome contributions sent through the site by going into 'Articles' and clicking 'Send us your Article' just near the top of the page. You will then see a submission form. However, we can't promise that we will use everyone's! I agree, it would be great to get some more UKC'ers involved.
5 Mar, 2015
I'm waiting for the writeup from the person who , like me, uses the boot of their car as their gear store
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